No Tea Party dissent: Texas Republicans unite behind Ryan’s budget

The Texas Republican delegation is widely considered the most conservative bloc in the House of Representatives. But when it came to today’s vote on the House Republican leadership’s official budget, they turned their back on the House’s hardest-of-hard-core conservatives and supported the plan by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

Rep. Joe Barton (AFP photo)

Just ten House Republicans opposed the budget, which was approved on a largely party-line vote of 221 to 207. Six dissenters said it didn’t cut spending enough. Four said it cut spending too much, or in the wrong places. None were from Texas.

All Texas Republicans supported the Ryan proposal — even Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis, who voted against it last year.

Ryan’s budget would cut $5 trillion in spending and seeks to balance the federal budget over the next decade. The plan contains many Republican values including repealing Obamacare, privatizing Medicare, and converting Medicaid and food stamps into block grants to the states. The plan failed to attract any Democratic support.

The Republican dissenters: From the right, Justin Amash of Michigan, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Walter Jones of North Carolina, Rick Crawford of Arkansas, and Paul Broun and Phil Gingrey of Georgia. From the center, Randy Forbes of Virginia, Joe Heck of Nevada, David McKinley of West Virginia and Chris Gibson of New York.

>>> Read on to see Texas lawmakers’ statements on the Ryan budget.

Kenny Marchant, R-Coppell, said in a statement:

Rep. Kenny Marchant (Official photo)

Today I voted in support of the House Republican plan to balance our budget over the next ten years. This budget plan will fully repeal Obamacare, the President’s misguided health care law that is raising premiums on American families and making it harder for small businesses and manufacturers to hire.

“This budget will also pave the way for comprehensive tax reform that will help grow our economy. Furthermore, this budget achieves balance without raising taxes on the American people; this is in stark contrast to Democrat proposals that never achieve balance, despite raising taxes by over $1 trillion.

“The American people deserve a federal government that lives within its means, and today’s House vote has moved us closer to that goal.”

Steve Stockman, R-Friendswood, tweeted:

Today I voted to take a step toward fiscal responsibility by approving a budget that balances and ends ObamaCare. More work to be done.

“There is no question Washington has a spending problem that is unsustainable and is hurting the American people,” said Hall. “America’s debt is nearly $17 trillion, and as a result, unemployment remains high and the labor force participation continues to drop (currently 63.5%). If we want to ensure our children and grandchildren inherit a prosperous America, we must take action now by addressing the growing national debt, and balancing the budget is a vital step in that process.”

Texas Rep. Ralph Hall (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Hall continued, “Unfortunately, the Administration continues to ignore the fact that their spending policies are harming Americans. The President shows no interest in reducing spending. The White House and Senate Democrats continue to argue to increase taxes, and the Senate’s budget will never balance. The President’s budget – expected sometime in early April, over two months past the due date required by law – is also expected to never balance.

“Recognizing that Washington must stop its out-of-control spending, House Republicans have a plan to get the national debt under control, encourage a healthier economy, and help create jobs.”

The House’s budget would:

Stop spending money we don’t have by cutting wasteful spending;

Fix our broken tax code to create jobs and increase wages;

Protect and strengthen important priorities like Medicare and national security;

Repair the safety net and expand opportunity to all Americans; and

Balance the budget in 10 years.

“I will continue to fight for legislation that provides economic security and expands opportunities for all Americans, and look forward to getting the national debt under control so all Americans can prosper.”

Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, tweeted:

The House passed HR 933, funding the gov’t for FY 13. We must remember one simple truth- The Dem’s budget never balances… our does. — JudgeCarter (@JudgeCarter) March 21, 2013

Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock released the following statement:

Rep. Randy Neugebauer

“This budget not only reins in government spending, but it does so while strengthening our safety net and kick-starting the economy,” Neugebauer said. “It simplifies the tax code, preserves Medicare for current seniors, reforms it for future generations, and repeals Obamacare.” The Path to Prosperity winds down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the failed government sponsored entities behind the 2008 housing crisis. Neugebauer has been an advocate for reforming these organizations and reducing their role in our housing markets. Additionally the budget gives states more flexibility in how to administer the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP—also known as food stamps) to improve efficiency and reduce improper payments. “Balancing our budget is the only responsible way to govern,” Neugebauer said. “It’s important for the future of our country, but it’s also important to every American. It will allow our economy to create 5 million more jobs, and it will increase average income to more than $80,000 per year. Those are real results that matter to my constituents.”

Pete Olson (Official photo)

Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, said in an op-ed:

“There is a better way to strengthen our economy and right America’s fiscal ship. The House Republican budget makes the tough, necessary choices needed to cut back on spending, balance our budget and provides the climate that businesses need to expand and grow. Our budget cuts spending responsibly and balances our books in ten years without raising taxes. It forces our nation to live within its means so that businesses can begin to plan for a certain future and make the investments needed to hire more employees. The House Republican budget will also ensure that the promise of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security is preserved. Our budget will help improve the lives of American families by providing economic security for employees, ensuring a secure retirement for the elderly, expanding opportunities for young people and repairing the safety net for the poor.”

Rep. Kevin Brady, R- The Woodlands, released the following statement:

“With many American families and young people struggling through the weakest economic recovery of our lifetime, the best thing we can do to create more jobs is to force Washington to address the issues that are holding our economy back,” said U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas), chairman of the Joint Economic Committee.

Rep. Kevin Brady

“That means fixing our broken tax code, living within our means, repealing the President’s job-killing health care law and taking the steps necessary to save Social Security and Medicare for the long haul.” A recent study by noted economists at the Hoover Institution estimate the Republican budget would boost the U.S. economy by a significant 1% next year, adding new jobs and $1,500 to the disposable income of average Americans. The budget would shrink the size of Washington to its historical levels and reduce the public debt of the nation. Brady, a long time member of the Republican Study Committee, also supported the budget proposed by House conservatives that balances in four years. That measure, which Brady calls a “tough love budget”, failed on a vote of 104 to 132. The House budget now goes to the Senate which has not passed a budget in nearly four years. Like their counterparts in the House, Senate Democrats have proposed a spending plan that calls for higher taxes, weaker defense and a growing national debt. “If you like bigger government, fewer jobs and a budget that never balances, the Democrat budget is the one for you,” noted Brady.

Rep. Roger Williams

Rep. Roger Williams, R-Weatherford, released the following statement:

“Today’s passage of the Path to Prosperity is a huge step in the right direction for our country. It balances, encourages job growth, supports job creators, and protects hard-working taxpayers. I hope the Senate and President will give this plan serious consideration rather than their efforts to balance our nation’s staggering debt on the backs of the middle-class and small businesses.”

Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Dallas, gave his thoughts on the House floor:

Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, tweeted:

Just voted for the House conservative budget. It’s balanced, repeals Obamacare, and is the common sense plan we need to get back on track.